M. J. Taylor

He wasn't just one of New York City's most prominent ostrich feather magnates. This long narrative uncovers the story of his life, as sad as it was colorful.

In 1883, at age 25, ambitious M. J. Taylor married a woman 13 years his senior. French-born Jeanne Louise Poupon owned a feather establishment in New York City called Madame Poupon. Together they grew her feather business, renaming it M. J. Taylor & Company.

After 13 years of marriage and two years of legal struggle, in 1898, M. J. had his marriage to Jeanne annulled on charges of bigamy. (She was in fact still married to someone else.) Jeanne died soon after the annulment of pneumonia, before she had changed her will. M. J. inherited all that she had, that he hadn't already gotten through the property settlement after their legal separation.

M. J. went on to marry again, and to grow and broaden the feather business. M. J. purchased and operated several ostrich farms at which the public lined up to have their pictures taken atop ostriches, watch ostrich races, observe ostrich hatchlings, and more. He even ran traveling shows. M. J. and his new wife lived a lavish lifestyle, owning multiple homes in vacation spots, joining country clubs, and vacationing in Europe.

Life took a tragic turn after the turn of the century, and by the end of 1910, at age 52, M. J. Taylor mysteriously died. Substantial questions remain about the end of his life.